82 THE FIRST BOOK OF FARMING 



two inches, three inches, and four inches. These 

 seeds can best be put in as the box is being filled. 

 Hold each individual seed against the glass with a 

 stick so that when planted they may be seen through 

 the glass. Protect the seeds and roots from light 

 by using a sheet of cardboard, tin or wrapping 

 paper or a piece of board, and set in a warm place. 



Many of the seeds planted only one-quarter inch 

 deep will not sprout because the soil about them 

 will probably dry out before they take from it 

 enough moisture to sprout. The one and two-inch 

 deep seeds will probably come up all right. Of the 

 three and four-inch deep seeds, the corn and peas 

 will probably make their way to the surface because 

 they send up only a slender shoot, which can easily 

 force its way through the soil. The deep-planted 

 beans will make a strong effort but will not suc- 

 ceed in forcing their way to the surface because 

 they are not able to lift the large seed-leaves through 

 so much soil, and will finally give up the struggle. 

 If any of the deeper beans do get up, the seed- 

 leaves will probably be broken off and the little 

 plant will starve and be dwarfed. This experiment 

 teaches us that we should plant seeds deep enough 

 to get sufficient moisture for sprouting and yet not 

 so deep that the young seedlings will not be able to 

 force their way to the surface. 



Seeds which raise their cotyledons above the soil 

 should not be planted as deep as those which do 

 not. Large, strong seeds like corn, peas, etc., which 

 do not lift their ; cotyledons above the surface, can 



